Love falafel? Make these 3 innovative dishes with the Middle Eastern delicacy

Mumbai boasts of quite a few restaurants serving Middle Eastern cuisine that go beyond the usual favourites including the shawarma hummus and even falafel among other delicacies Interestingly many other restaurants are soaking in this very popularity of the dishes to create their own versions of Middle Eastern dishesEvery year World Falafel Day is observed on June 12 to celebrate the Middle Eastern dish Falafel is a mildly spiced traditional dish from the region that is made from ground chickpeas and deep fried in the shape of a ball or patty It is usually eaten plain or served with pita breadInterestingly Indian chefs are doing so much more with it They share recipes for not only a delicious panini sandwich but also a burger and labneh tooThe Habibi Panini SandwichCelebrating the falafel uniquely Sainath Kodi who is the hotel manager at Le Cafeacute in Chembur says they make a Habibi Panini with the classical falafel He shares ldquoWith the Habibi Panini we wanted to reimagine it in a way that felt both familiar and fresh Instead of going the classic route we paired the crunch of our falafel with grilled tomatoes creamy avocado arugula and melted Monterey Jack cheesemdashall pressed into a warm crusty panini baked fresh in our bakeryrdquoIngredientsFor the sandwichPanini bread cut in half horizontally 1 noButter softened 1 tbspPlain hummus 1 tbspRed Pepper Hummus 1 tbspFresh arugula a handfulGrilled Tomato slices 3ndash4 nosAvocado sliced 12 noFalafel crispy 3 piecesMonterey Jack Cheese 2 slicesFor the sidePeri Peri fries storebought or homemadeMethod1 Prep the bread Slice your panini bread horizontally and spread a thin layer of butter on both inner sides2 Layer the spreads On the bottom half spread plain hummus Then gently spread red pepper hummus over it for a flavour kick3 Lay a generous handful of arugula over the hummus Top with grilled tomato slices Add avocado slices for creaminess Place 3 pieces of crispy falafel on top Finish with two slices of Monterey Jack cheese4 Grill it Close the sandwich with the top half of the bread Grill the sandwich in a panini press or on a skillet until the bread is golden and the cheese is melted about 3ndash4 minutes5 Serve Cut the sandwich in half and serve hot with a side of spicy peri peri friesPro tip1 Add a drizzle of tahini or a sprinkle of zarsquoatar inside for extra Middle Eastern flavourFalafel BurgerReimagining the Middle Eastern dish in a new form chef Shailendra Kekade who is the executive and consulting chef at Sante Spa Cuisine in Mumbai says you can make a Falafel Burger With a delicious mix of chickpeas cucumbers and tomatoes with tahini it is a delicious burger like you never imagine beforeIngredientsChickpeas 200 gmFresh parsley 400 gmFresh coriander 60 gmOnion 50 gmGarlic cloves 15 gmSalt to tasteBaking soda 1 tspGround black pepper 1 tbspCumin powder 1 tbspCoriander powder 1 tbspFresh green chilly 10 gmRoasted sesame seeds 2 tbspOil for grillingBuilding the burgerMultigrain burger bunsSliced cucumbersSliced tomatoesBaby Romaine lettuceTahini sauceMethod1 Place the dried chickpeas and baking soda in a large bowl filled with water to cover the chickpeas by at least 2 inches Soak overnight2 Add the chickpeas herbs onions garlic and spices to the large bowl of a grinder until all is well combined forming the falafel mixture3 Transfer the falafel mixture to a container and cover tightly and store in the fridge for a few hours4 Just before grilling add the sesame seeds to the falafel mixture and stir5 Scoop the falafel mixture and form into patties of about 5 inches wide and 12 inch in thickness each6 Grill over a high flame on both sides till crisp from the outside and finish in a pre heated oven at 180 degrees C for about 5 to 7 minutes7 Assemble the falafel patties in a toasted burger bun with tahini sauce lettuce tomato and cucumbers and serve with crispsFalafel Chaat with Sumac Yogurt amp Tamarind GlazeWhile Indian chaat is a favourite Amandeep Singh who is the executive sous chef at The Westin Mumbai Garden City combines Indian street food with Middle Eastern soul to create falafel chaat with sumac yogurt and tamarind glazeIngredientsClassic falafel 4 pcs minisizedWhisked yogurt 12 cup with sumac and saltTamarind chutney 2 tbspPomegranate pearls 2 tbspSev 1 tbspMint leaves and corianderMethod1 Cut warm falafels in half place over yogurtsumac base drizzle tamarind glaze sprinkle sev and garnish with pomegranate and herbs2 Enjoy a delightful crunchy tangy plate